Electric insulator for boilers



(No Model.)

P. DECKER.

ELECTRIC INSULATOR FOR BOILERS. No. 467,085. Patented Jan. 12, 1892.

jjw, 45.2% m #6 A TTOHNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE.

PETER DECKER, OF NORIVALK, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC INSULATOR FOR BOILERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 467,085, dated January12, 1892.

Apnlieation filed September 25, 1891. Serial No. 406.793. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER DECKER, of N orwalk, in the county ofFairtield and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulElectrical Insulator for Boilers, of which the iollowing is a full,clear, and exact descriplon.

The fiues of land and marine boilers are found to corrode rapidly inmany instances where quick-speed engines are directly connected to theboiler by steam and feed-waterpipes. Experiment has demonstrated thatthe excessive oxidation of the interior of a boiler used to generatesteam is frequently due to electrolytic action resulting from currentsof electricity pervading the water in the boiler and which are generatedby friction of working parts in a quick-speed engine, an electriccircuit being established between the boiler and engine through the steam-pipe and feed-water pipe connecting the same.

The object of my invention is to prevent the excessive oxidation of theinterior parts of a steam-boiler due to electrolysis; and it consists inthe introduction of an electrical insulator in one of the pipesextending between the engine and boiler, whereby the current ofelectricity is broken between them and the oxidation of the boilerinterior from electrolysis is prevented.

My invention further consists in the combination of parts, as ishereinafter described and claimed.

While the insulation is effective to prevent injury to all types ofboilers that are attached to quick-speed engines, so as to break anelectrical circuit between them, it is herein shown and described inconnection with a marine boiler of the vertical type and a verticalquick-speed steam-engine.

In the drawings forminga part of this specification similar letters ofreference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a vessel amidships brokenaway at each end, an upright boiler therein, a vertical steamengine, apump, water-supply tank therefor, a steam-pipe, an d awater-su ppl ypipe exten (1- ing from the boiler and in connection with the engine,and the improvement placed in a joint in the water-pipe. Fig. 2 is anenlarged longitudinal section of the water-feed pipe sulating-jointshown in connection with the pipe, and Fig. 3 is a transverse section ofparts taken on the line 3 in Fig. 1.

A represents an upright steam-boiler located in the hull of a vessel B.

O is an upright quick-speed steam-engine.

D is a hot-well to receive water from the tube condenser E, throughwhich the exhauststeam of the engine traverses and is exposed to thewater of flotage.

The boiler A is connected to the engine by a steam-supply pipe F, (shownbroken,) the usual steam-controlling valve being removed therefrom, aswell as the safety-valve for the boiler. These features may be of anyapproved form, and,as they are notnecessary to illustrate the invention,are omitted from the drawings.

The pump G has its plunger (0 connected with the main shaft D of theengine by an eccentric b, and the pump is fed with water from the tankor hot-well D bya connectingpipe 0.

The several parts briefly described are of well-known form in common useand are shown to facilitate an understanding of the invention, whichconsists in the introduction of an insulating-joint in thewater-feedpipe I, that extends between the boiler A and pump G.

As shown in Fig. 2, the pipe I is divided into two parts and at theopposing ends is provided with a radial flange 6 on each terminal, whichflanges are perforated for the reception of securing-bolts g. There is ajoint ring or washer h introduced between the flanges e, which is madeof any good non-conductor of electricity that will also provide awater-tight joint for the pipe I.

Around each of the bolts g a sleeve 2' is placed and washers m betweenthe flanges e and bolt-heads and nuts 42, which sleeves and washers areformed of material that is a nonconductor of electricity.

The insertion of the insulators as explained will prevent a current ofelectricity passing through the boiler from the engine and consequentlyarrest electrolytic action in the boiler that would result if such aninsulator was not provided.

It will be evident that an equally beneficial 2. An electric insulatorfor a steam or water pipe extending between a steam-boiler and asteam-engine, consisting of an insulatingjoint located between opposingcouplingflanges on the pipe-sections, a sleeve of nonconducting materialon each bolt-body, and a Washer of non-conducting material under eachhead and nut on said bolts, substantially as described.

PETER DECKER.

\Vitnesses:

HENRY W. BODWELL, GEORGE E. BEARSE.

